Who Are the Smartest Green Bay Packers?
NFL players are idolized for their skills on the field. But, many of them are paragons not just of athleticism but also intellectualism. Here at HelloDoorCounty.com, we believe in the ideal of the scholar-athlete and the pursuit of excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
That’s why we compiled this list of the 10 smartest players on our favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers.
10 Smartest Green Bay Packers
- Kyu Blu Kelly
- Kenny Clark
- Sean Rhyan
- Rashan Gary
- Jon Runyan
- Tyler Davis
- Josh Myers
- De’Vondre Campbell
- Darnell Savage
- David Bakhtiari
Kyu Blu Kelly
A newcomer to the NFL and the Green Bay Packers in 2023, Kyu Blue Kelly is known for his high football IQ that results from a combination of raw, natural ability and good teachability. This has led to some great successes on the field. In college, he became a starter only four games into his freshman year and was named second-team All-Pac-12 during his junior season
Speaking of college, Kyu Blu Kelly played for an impressive institution: Stanford University. U.S. News and World Report ranks Stanford as the third-best university in the world.
That earns Kyu Blu Kelly the title of the smartest Green Bay Packer.
Kenny Clark
At 6 feet 3 inches tall and 314 pounds, defensive end Kenny Clark has an impressive build. But, as impressive as his size is, he also has an impressive intellect.
Clark attended the University of California–Los Angeles, ranked number 14 by U.S. News and World Report, earning him the number 2 slot for smartest players on the Green Bay Packers. He majored in African-American studies.
Kenny Clark is a great example of the fact that athletics and academics can (and should!) go hand-in-hand.
Sean Rhyan
Tied with Kenny Clark for the second smartest Green Bay Packer, Sean Rhyan also attended the University of California–Los Angeles, where he majored in geography and environmental studies and earned a spot on the athletic director’s honor roll two times.
He was drafted by the Packers in 2022 partly for his massive build (6 feet, 5 inches tall and 321 pounds) but also for his massive smarts.
Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary is known for being a hard-hitting linebacker that quarterbacks fear. But, perhaps Gary ought to be known just as much for hitting the books.
Rashan Gary attended the University of Michigan, one of the top academic public universities in the world. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Michigan as number 19 in its Global University Rankings.
Gary is an inspiration to work hard both on the field and in the classroom.
Jon Runyan
As an offensive lineman, Jon Runyan’s teammates depend on him to guard the quarterback. But, his mind is also a guardian of incredible knowledge.
Like Gary, Jon Runyan attended the University of Michigan. He made the most of his time there, even studying abroad in Spain.
Jon Runyan demonstrates that peak athletic performance need not come at the expense of excellent educational achievement.
Tyler Davis
Tight end Tyler Davis excels on the gridiron and in the academy. He started his college career at the University of Connecticut, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in financial management after only three years of study.
From UConn, he transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology where he studied for a master’s degree in economics.
He plans on using his brains for an eventual career on Wall Street.
Davis exemplifies the ideal of the scholar-athlete.
Josh Myers
Center Josh Myers has been a dependable player for the Green Bay Packers, starting in all games in 2022. At 6 feet five inches tall and 310 pounds, he is an imposing physical presence.
Just as impressive are his academic abilities. Myers attended the Ohio State University. Ohio State is ranked number 55 among global universities by U.S. News & World Report.
Myers demonstrates that success in school can go together with success in athletics.
De’Vondre Campbell
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is a veteran Packers player with lots of experience. Besides that valuable experience, he brings another valuable asset to the field: brain power.
Campbell played football for the University of Minnesota, a solid academic institution ranked number 55 for global universities by U.S. News & World Report. That puts Campbell at the number 8 slot for the most intelligent Packer player.
Campbell puts his brain to work not only for the Packers but also for the good of the community. He’s active in charity work and exemplifies the fact that education is not just about intellectual formation but also moral formation.
Darnell Savage
Darnell Savage is a force to be reckoned with both in terms of football skill and intellect. This Packers safety is known for picking up some crucial interceptions.
But, he could equally be known for picking up critical knowledge. Savage played for the University of Maryland, which is ranked number 57 among global universities by U.S. News & World Report. This means that Savage is tied with Campbell for the 8th smartest Packer.
Savage shows that your skills in the field can help you achieve success in school.
David Bakhtiari
David Bakhtiari doesn’t let much get by him on the field. This veteran Packers tackle is known for his blocking skills.
Bakhtiari doesn’t let much get by him mentally, either. Before going pro, he played for the University of Colorado, ranked number 70 among global universities by the U.S. New & World Report.
That earns him the 10th spot among the Packer’s smartest players.
Bakhtiaria shows that inside many a big man also has a big brain.
Significance of This Study
The United States of America is facing dual crises: drastically declining physical activity, especially among females, and drastically declining academic achievement among young men.
This study illustrates the crucial correlation between academic achievement and physical activity and will hopefully help inspire young people to grow mentally and physically.
Methodology
To compile this list of the smartest Green Bay Packers, we compared the colleges each player attended with the Global Universities Rankings of U.S. News & World Report. Players who went to a university with a higher ranking were ranked as more intelligent on our list.
************************************
2023 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Football Conference Standings: Links to Area Conferences
Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?
We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?
Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:
Nominate an athlete or team: HERE
**********************************************
Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
